Steam-trap.



V. ANDERSON.

STEAM TRAP. APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 16, 1910.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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F. V. ANDERSON.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLHLMION FILED JUNE 1s, 1910.

1,085,719. vPatentedFeb.3,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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l F. V. ANDERSON.

y STEAM TRAP.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JUNE 1e, 1910.

1,085,719.` Patented Feb.3,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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FREDERICK V. ANDERSON, OF CLEVELAND, OH-IO.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed .Tune 16, 1910. Serial N o. 567,241.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK V. ANDER- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a speciiication.

' My` present invention pertains to improvements in steam traps, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the trap; Fig. 2 a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the parts being enlarged; Fig. 3 a similar view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the parts in this View being enlarged over those shown in Figfl; Fig. 4a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line l/l of Fig. 1, the

arts beino' shown on a somewhat enlar 'ed P e scale; Fig. 5 a horizontal' sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a top plan view, showing a. portion of the main body and the removable head or casing, Fig. 7 a perspective view of the mechanism employed vin conjunction with the float and its lever to counterbalance the same; Fig. 8 a perspective view of one of the clamping members; Fig. 9 a sectional view of a valve-seat employed when the trap is used with high-pressure steam; Fig. l() a side elevation of the valve which works in conjunction with said seat; Fig. 11 a sectional elevation of the valve-carrying arm; Fig. 12 a sectional view of the valve-seat employed when the trap is used with lowpressure steam; and Fig. 13 a side elevation of the valve intended to coperate with said seat.

The objects of the invention may be stated as follo "s: To counterbalance the float so that a heavier and stronger float may be employed, thereby prolonging the life of the trap and preventing the collapse of the float under high-pressure steam; to provide means whereby the valve may be held off of its seat and the steam allowed to blow through the trap for the purpose of cleansing the same, said means being operable from without the trap; to provide means whereby the trap may be readily converted from a high to a low-pressure trap, or vice versa, by providing a structure in which the valve and its seat may be readily changed without dismantling the trap; to provide a structure in which all the bperative parts are connected to and supported by a removable head, whereby access may be readily had to any portion of the mechanism without entirely dismantling the same; to provide means whereby the removable head will be drawn or forced in a straight line toward the main shell or casing so that the packing interposed between the head and the casing will not be forced outwardly, thereby avoid` ing leakage at said point and preventing blowing-out of the packing; and to so mount the valve that it will always lind its seat when moved toward the same.

Other and minor advantages will be apparent from the following description and it is not thought necessary to set forth the same in detail at this point.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the main shell or casing-provided with an opening 2,- steam and water from which pass into the shell or casing through a removable strainer 3.

The shell or casing, at one side and at a point adjacent to the lower portion thereof, is provided with an openingwhich is faced or turned off, forming an annular shoulder 41, Figs. 1 and 5, upon which thereis seated a packing ring 5. The removable head (designated Vas a whole by 6) which carries the valve mechanism, is provided with an inwardly-projecting hub 7 and a shouldered face 8, best shown in Fig. 5, the hub 7 entering an annular opening in the shell or casing and the shouldered portion 8 bearing directly against the annular packing 5.

To secure the head 6 in place, the following devices are employed: the body of the main shell or casing (see more particularly Figs. 2 and 6) is formed with outwardlyprojecting ears or lugs 9, each of which is provided with an enlarged recess 10 into which opens a slot 11. The flange 12 of the head 6 is provided in its outer face (see Fig. 6) with a series of sockets or depressions 13, corresponding in number and position with the ears or lugs 9, each of said sockets being adapted to receive a lug or projection 14 formed upon the inwardlyprojecting end of a draw or pressure block 15, the opposite end of the block being provided with a iinger, as 16, adapted to enter a slot 11. Each draw block is provided with an opening extending therethrough, through which passes the stem of a bolt 17, the head 18 of the bolt being seated and held in the recess 10, with the body of the bolt formed upon the head.

passing through the slot 11 and through the opening formed in the draw-block 15, a nut 19 bearing against the outer face of the draw-block, and as the various nuts are turned up the draw or pressure blocks are forced against the flange of the head, thereby forcing the shouldered face S in a right line against the packing 5, so that said packing is in turn forced tightly against the annular face or shoulder 4. As will be seen upon an inspect-ion of Fig. 5, the packing is virtually held in a closed chamber, this by reason of the peculiar construction of the parts and blowing out thereof is thereby prevented. The drawing of the head against the packing in a right line, secures an even pressure upon the packing throughout the entire surface, thereby insuring a tightjoint at this point, a matter of prime importance, especially where steam under heavy pressure has to be trapped. 4

In order to insure the parts coming to their proper position prior to the nuts 19 being turned up, a guide r dowel-pin 20 (see Fig. 1) is secured to the flange 12 and enters a socket in the opposite face of the main shell or casing 1.

The head 6, as will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1, is hollow and provided with an outlet 21 for the water, which will pass into the head from the main chamber of the trap under the control of the valve. The head at the inner end thereof is provided with a horizontally-disposed opening in which is mounted a tube or quill 22, preferably formed of brass or other non-corrosive metal. The right-hand end of the tube is slightly enlarged and provided with a beveled face 23 which bears against a complemental face The outer face of the enlarged portion of the tube 22 makes a close fit with an annular socket or recess 25, formed in one face of a substantially U- shaped support-ing bracket, or casting 26 shown in det-ail in Figs. 2, 4 and 7 Extending outwardly from the head G (see Fig. are two threaded stems or bolts 27isaid bolts passing through eyes 28 formed in a clamp 29 shown in detail in Fig. 8, said clamp bearing against the outer face of the bracket and forcing the same against'the end of the tube 22 and thereby pressing the beveled face 23 tightly against the complemental face formed upon the head. In this manner the supporting bracket or casting 26 is held firmly in its place with reference to the head and the tube 22 is likewise firmly positioned.

A float lever 30, carrying a float 31 at its outer or free end, is supported by the bracket 26 in the manner best shown in Fig. 4. The rear end of the lever is bifurcated, that is to say is provided with two downwardlyproject-ing arms 32, 33, into which are driven blocks or plugs 34,35, the outer end of each of said blocks being countersunk to receive the ends of pins 36, 37, which are driven into openings formed in the bracket 26. These pins and plugs are preferably formed of brass as it has been found from experience that when the parts are subjected to extreme temperature they become tight and there is no necessity of using fastening pins or other means to secure them in place.

Above the arms and above the blocks 34 and 35 the lever is formed with a lug or projection 38, in which is provided an opening for the reception of a pin or bar 39, the ends of which extend outwardly 'beyond the lug and are adapted to coact with cam faces 40 formed upon the under side of a counterbalancing lever. The long portion of this lever is bifurcated or is composed ofV two arms 41 and 42 which are preferably connected to each otherrby a cross-bar 43, adjacent to the outer end thereof and to the counterbalancing weights 44. Each of the arms 41 and 42 is bored out toreceive a block as 45 which is driven into the o ening, each block being countersunk at its outer end to receive the depressed end of a pin 46, which pins are driven into the upper end of the bracket 26.' The pins form the fulcruin for the lever. The short end 47 of the lever is adapted to coact (when it is desired to open Vthe valve, as will be hereinafter set forth) with a cani 4S, pinned to the lower end of a rod 49 mounted in a suitable steam-tight bearing. stem or rod 49 is provided with a handle 50. The operation of these parts willbe hereinafter set forth. The lower ends of the arms 32 and 33 are each provided with a pin 51, the inner ends of which are tapered and have a bearing in the socketed ends of a block or member 52 which, as willl be see-n upon reference to Fig. 4, is provided with an opening through which extends a pin 53, said pin being out of contact with the walls of the opening; in other words, making a loose lit in the block. The pin 53 is designed to secure the block 52 in an opening 54 formed in one end of the valve-carrying bar shown in detail in Fig. 11. Said bar is composed of two arms 55 and 56, one end of each arm being provided with a head, as 57, 58, the adjacent faces of which are bored out to form a semicircular seat or recess for the reception of the valvestem. The upper head (57) is provided with a vertically-disposed opening in which is4 mounted a locking pin 59.

r1`he valve, having reference more particularly to the construct-ion shown in Fig. 13, is formed in the following manner: Its stem is composed of two oppositely-disposed conical sections 60 and 61, connected by an intermediate cylindrical section 62, the base of the conical section 61 being slightly inclined toward the reduced section 62, as at 63. A

The outer endof the shoulder 64 is formed adjacent to the outer end of the section 61, and the valve proper is formed by the conical face 65.

To position the valve with reference to the bearing which carries it, it is only necessary to move the conical section 60 endwise into the circular recess formed by the adjacent faces of the heads 57 and 58. The section 60 separates the arms 55 and 56 somewhat and permits the valve-stem to pass inwardly until the locking pin 59 drops down behind the squared face of said section 60. The heads will then almost approach each other and by reason of their spring action will firmly hold the valve in place.

To remove the valve, it is only necessary to draw up slightly upon the outer end of Vthe valve prop-er, the stem at this time forcing the heads 57 and 58 apart, thereby withdrawing the inner end of the locking pin 59 from contact with the squared shoulder on the member 60. The valve may then be readily withdrawn from the supporting bar. To prevent said bar from dropping downwardly in the tube 22, which would interfere with the securing of a finger-hold upon the valve, the lower arm 56 of the bar is provided with a. downwardly-projecting lug 66. This lug, when the valve-seat is removed,

comes in contact with the inner face of the' tube 22 through which the valve-supporting bar or arm extends. It likewise serves to maintain the valve in such position that 1t will readily come to its-seat as the float and the arm move downwardly from their uppermost position.

The valve-seat comprises an annular member formed with a beveled face 67 adapted to make a close it with the valve face 65, and also with a second beveled face 68 adapted to litupon the similarly beveled outer end of the tube 22.V The valve-seat is held in its position upon the tube 22 by a block 69 having formed in its forward face a circular seat adapted to receive the collar 70 of the valve-seat. A plurality of openings 71 extend laterally from the point where the valve-seat opens into the block in order to permit the free passage of water through the block when the valve is open or thrown from its seat. The opposite face of the block 69 is provided with an interiorlythreaded opening 72 adapted to receive a `threaded stem 73 which extends outwardly from the lower end of a sliding block 74.

Said block is formed with an undercut groove in its rear face adapted to receive the valve and its seat shown in Figs. 9 and 10,

it is only necessary that the block 69 be screwed back upon the threaded stem 73 and then, when the block is withdrawn from the valve-seat, or the block and the valve-seat member withdrawn from the end of the tube, as the case may be, to raise the sliding block 74 through an opening formed in the upper portion of the head. Another valve may then be substitutedior theone carried by the valve arm and a new valve-seat introduced, after which the slide and the block 69 may be moved downwardly into position. The block is rotated until it is screwed out; wardly on the threaded stem 73, at which time it will force the valve-seat to its proper position upon the tube 22.

To prevent the sliding block 74 from turning as the block 69 is screwed in one or the other direction upon the stem 73, lugs 77 are formed upon the inner face of the head, said lugs engaging the block 74, see Figs. l and 6.

To close the opening formed in the upper portion of the head through which the valveseat and the positioning mechanism are inserted and withdrawn, I provide an annular cover 78, the lower edge of which bears upon a packing ring 79 mounted upon an annular seat formed in the upper face of the head.

Extending upwardly from ears formed one upon each side of the head are posts or arms 8O and 8l, the arm 8O forming the pivot upon which a yoke or cross-bar 82 is fulcrumed, the opposite end of the cross-bar being provided with a U-shaped slot adapted to embrace the arm 8l when the yoke is thrown around directly over the cover. The yoke at its center carries a screw 83 which, when turned down, finds its bearing in a socket in the central portion of the cover, and thereby forces the cover tightly upon the packing 79, providing a tight joint between the parts through which no steam can leak. The joint is formed in a manner similar to that between the head and the main body of the trap, that is to say, the construction is such that the cover makes a fair bearing upon the packing, movement of the cover with reference to the seat being in a right line.

The yoke 82 is provided with two upwardly-inclined fingers 84, 85, which also incline slightly toward each other, as will be best seen upon reference to Figs. 3 and 6. Said lingers are designed to act as stops for the handle 50, the finger 84 bearing the legend Open and adapted, when the handle 50 is thrown into contact therewith, to arrest the movement of the handle, at

4which time the cam 48 will be turned from the position shown in Fig. 1 to its uppermost position. The turning of the cam to this position will lock the counterbalancing lever' and through the pin 39 will rock the fioat arm, elevating the Hoat and withdrawing the valve from its seat, permitting steam to pass through the trap for the purpose of cleaning the same.

When the handle 50 is moved to the opposite position, or brought into contact with the finger 85, which bears the legend Closed, as shown in Fig. 6, the cam 48 will be lowered as in Fig. 1, thereby removing the ioat-arm and the counterbalancing arm from the influence of the cam. A

In operation the steam and water passing into the trap will gradually accumulate therein, the water raising the ioat, and when suiiicient. water is entrapped the float will move the valve off its seat and permit the water to escape. As the water passes out the float lowers and closes the valve to its seat, thereby preventing the steam from passing out around the valve and also preventing the passage of any more water until a suliicient amount has accumulated or been entrapped, to raise the iioat, to open the valve. It will be understood, of course, that the water seeps out gradually and there is no jamming or hammering of the parts.

It is thought that from the foregoing description the operation of substituting one valve for another and placing the corre sponding seat in position will be readily understood.

By making the tube 22, the valve and its seat of non-corrosive metal the parts may be removed without forcing or marring the same. Again, by having all of the operative parts attached to or carried by the head, and having the head easily removable, access to all of the parts may be readily had without danger of the parts becoming disarranged or damaged in the least.

Having thus described my invention, whatI I claim is: i

l. In a steam trap, the combination of a valve; a lever connected thereto and adapted to open and close the same; a lioat carried by said lever; a second lever fulcrumed upon a fixed portion of the frame, said lever being provided with weights at one end; connections between said levers, whereby the iioat and its lever will be counterbalanced; ay cam cooperating with the short arm of the counterbalancing lever; and means located without the trap for moving the cam so as to depress the counterbalancing lever.

Q. In a steam trap, the combination of a shell or casing having an opening adjacent to one side thereof; a plurality of lugs formed around said opening, the lugs being provided with slotted recesses; a head; valve mechanism carried thereby; a packing ring interposed between the head and the shell or casing; a plurality of draw-blocks provided with bearing faces contacting with the head and having at their opposite ends lingers adapted to enter the recesses in the lugs aforesaid; and a bolt and nut coperating with each of the draw-blocks and theY lugs to force the blocks against the head, and the head in turn tightly against the packing interposed between it and the shell or casing.

3. In a steam trap, the combination of a main shell or casing provided with an opening adjacent to one side thereof, said opening being provided with a bearing face; a packing resting upon said face; a series of lugs arranged around the casing adjacent to the opening, said lugs being provided with sockets having slots extending outwardly therefrom; a head adapted to bear directly against the packing; valve mechanism carried by said head; al series of draw-blocks, each block .being provided with a member adapted to bear directly upon the head and with a linger extending into the slot in one of the lugs aforesaid; and a` bolt for each of said draw-blocks, the bolt having its head seated in the recess extending through the slot beneath the linger of the draw-block and through an opening therein to the outer end of the block, whereby upon turning up the nuts upon the various bolts the head will be drawn in a direct line toward the packing and rotation of the parts upon each other will be prevented.

il. In a steam trap, the combination of a main shell or casing; a hollow head secured thereto; a support-ing bracket secured to the head; a float lever pivotally mounted on the bracket; a valve-supporting bar pivotally connected to the lever and extending outwardly into the head; a tube also mounted in the head and surrounding said bar; a valve detachably mounted in the outerend of the bar; a valve-seat bearing against the end of the tube; and means for securing said seat in position with reference to the tube and the valve.

5. In a. steam trap, the combination of a float-lever; a valve-bar pivotally connected thereto, said bar comprising a pair of spring arms, the outer ends of which are provided with a seat or recess; a valve having a stem adapted to it in said seat or recess; a valveseat adapted to coact with the valve; and means for holding said seatin its proper position with relation to the valve.

6. In a steam trap, the combination Vof al float lever; a valve-bar pivotally connected thereto. said bar comprising two arms the outer free ends of which are formed with a seat or recess; a valve provided with a stem having` a reduced portion, said stem adapted to tit within the seat or recess; a

pin carried by one of said arms adapted to i enter the reduced portion of the -stem when the parts are properly positioned; a valveseat; and means for holding said seat in its proper working position with relation to the valve.

7. In a steam trap; the combinationof a lloat. lever; a valve-bar pivotally connected thereto; a valve detachably mounted in the outerV end of said bar; a tube surrounding said bar; means for securing the tube in a ixed position; a valve-seat mounted upon the outer end of said tube; a hollow block bearing upon the outer portion of the valveseat; a second block having a sliding connection with a fixed portion of the trap; and a threaded co-nnection between `said blocks, whereby the first-named block may be turned or forced against the valve-seat and said seat in turn torced upon the end of the tube and held in proper relation to the valve.

8. In a steam trap; the combination of a lioat lever; a valve-bar pivctally connected thereto; a valve mounted in the outer end of the bar; a tube surrounding said bar and being held in a fixed position; a valve-seat mounted upon the outer end of the tube; a hollow block bearing upon the valve-seat. said block being provided wit-h a threaded socket; a second block provided with a threaded stem adapted to cooperate with the threaded socket and likewise provided with an undercut groove or channel in that face opposite the threaded stem; and a shouldered head carried by a fixed portion of the trap and adapted to coact with the groove, whereby the hollow block may be screwed v upon the threaded stem of the second-named block, and withdrawn from contact with the valve-seat; permitting the withdrawal of the valve-seat and the valve and the substitution of a diilerent valve and a coperating seat.

9. In a steam trap, the combination of aV float lever; a valve-bar pivotally connected thereto; a valve mounted in the outer end of the bar; a tube surrounding said bar and being held in a fixed position; a valve-seat mounted upon the outer end of the tube; a hollow block bearing upon the valve-seat, said block being provided with a threaded socket; a second block provided with a threaded stem adapted to cooperate with the threaded socketand likewise provided with an undercut groove or channel in that face opposite the threaded stem; a shouldered head carried by a fixed portion ot the trap and adapted to coact with the groove, whereby the hollow block may be screwed upon the threaded stem of the second-named block, and withdrawn from contact with the valve-seat, permitting the withdrawal of the valve-seat and the valve, and the substitution of a dierent valve and a cooperating seat; and means for preventing rotation of the second block.

l0. In a steam trap, the `combination of a shell or casing; a hollow head secured thereto; a float lever; a valve actuated by said oat lever; a counterbalancing lever cooperating with the float lever to counterbalance said float lever throughout its range of movement; a cam located in line with the short end of said counterbalancing lever; a rod or stem extending from the cam to a point: outside :the casing of the trap; a handle secured upon the outer end of said rod; and a pair of stops, one of said stops adapted toV arrest the movement of the handlerwhen the cam is in position to depress the counterbalancing lever, and the other of said stops acting to arrest the handle when it is moved in the opposite direction and the cam brought to an inoperative position with reference Vto the lever.A

1l?. In a steam trap, the combination of a shell or casing; a head secured thereto, said head having an opening in one side through which access may be had to the interior mechanism of the trap mounted in the head; a float lever; a valve operated by said float lever, said valve being located wit-hin the head; a counterba-lancing lever for the lloat lever; a cam cooperating with said counterbalancing lever to throw it downwardly to thereby elevate the float lever and open the valve; a stem secured to said cam, projecting outwardly beyond the casing of the trap; a handle secured to the outer end of said stem; a closure for the opening in the head; a yoke extending across the head; a set-screw carried by the yoke and adapted to force the closure in place; and a pair of lingers extending outwardly from the yoke and adapted to arrest the movement of the handle in one or the other direction.

l2. In a steam trap, the combination of a shell or casing; a hollow head secured thereto; a float lever; a U-shaped bracket or casting to which said float lever is ulcrumed; a tube mounted in an opening formed in the head adjacent to the main shell or casing of the trap; a clamp adapted to be secured against one face of the U-shaped bracket to force the same against the end of the tube .and the tube in turnl against a shoulder formed upon the head; a valve-bar pivotally secured to the short arm of the floatlever, said bar being mounted within the tube, a valve carried thereby; a valve-seat resting upon the outer end of the tube; and means for holding the valve-seat in position.

13. In a steam trap, the combination of a shell or casing; a hollow head secured thereto adjacent to an opening formed therein; a tube mounted in an opening formed in the head in line with the opening in the shell or casing; a U-shaped bracket bearing against one end of the tube; a clamp bearing against the opposite side of the bracket; means for drawing said clamp against the bracket and `forcing` the bracket in turn against the end of the tube and the tube to its seat in the head; a counterbalancing lever mounted in the upper portion of the bracket; a float lever pivotally mounted in the bracket; a bar carried by the float lever and coacting with the counterbalanoing lever; a valve bar pivotally mounted upon the short arm of the float lever and eXtending forwardly in the tube; a valve-seat resting upon the outer end of the tube; and

means for detaehably supporting said seat 15 FREDERICK V. ANDERSON.

Vitnesses G. B. KINivEY, C. W. TOLAND.

Genies of this patent may 'be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,-D. G. 

